Purification of liquids



May R. F. CLEMENS fURIFiCATION OF LIQUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1941 INVENTOR Eobez-t fifclenzelus. v

. ATTORNEY y 1945- R. F. CLEMENS 2,375,282

PURIFICATION OF LIQUIDS Filed Dec. 20, l94l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIN 8 Robert F flak...

' ATTORNEY Patented May 8, 1945 i Q Robert F. Clemens, Union City, N. J., assignor to The Don- Company, New York, N. Y.-, a corporation of Delaware Application December 20, 1941, Serial No. 423,849

2 Claims.

Th present invention relates to the separation of suspended particles from the liquid medium in which they are suspended. More specifically the invention relates to the clarification or puriis determined by the overflow rate and the detention time necessitated by the various settling rates of the suspended solids to be settled. Due to th normally slow settling rates of the solids fication of impure or polluted liquids such as 5 contained in suspension in sewage, such clarifier sewage, trade and dairy wastes, packing and are, of necessity, relatively large. cannery wastes, oil refinery wastes and the like Some of the suspended material in sewage is which are characterized by the necessity of refloatable and tends to rise to the surface of the moving certain constituents thereof before the liquid to form a scum which is unsightly and may same may be either re-used or released into give rise to disagreeable odors. The removalof water-courses such as rivers and streams or into such scum from clarifier tanks is in many cases the ocean. not easy to accomplish. Where other industrial Such constituents may comprise any susliquids or wastes are concerned, the suspended pended particles that interfere with the clarity solids may have valu and it is desirable to proof the liquid in which they are suspended and te fidtation Of all S h Solids as are capable include both inorganic particles and organic of being floated in order that the scum or surface particles which may cause turbidity or pollution material may be reclaimed upon removal. The including particles which are prone to septicity. p t invention has among its Objects t P In general, such constituents exist in the waste vision of an eiflcient means for removing floatable waters in the form of suspended. matter whose matter as scum at a rate commensurate with its settleability ranges from normally readily setaccumulation on the surface of the liquid while tleable solids such as grit, up through varying at h Same time Promoting uc otat o to as degrees of dimcult settleability to colloids and great an extent as is possibl h inv nti n oil or grease particles that are normally nonalso has as another and equally important and settleable and which may, in fact, float on the similar bject the pr sion o a means for resurface of the body of waste water or other movin settl a l matt r f m p ll t d l quids liquid. in a rapid manner without the necessity of the Accordingly, the principal object of the presusual long detention period and toward this end ent invention is to provide an improved method contemplates the promotion of rapid settling of and apparatus for promoting flotation of susof this matter as well as promotion of flotation pended matter that is capable of being floated of the floatable solids. In accomplishing these and for promoting settling of suspended matter last two objects of the invention the usual large that is capable of settling, together with emcient settling basin or area may be dispensed with and means for removing both the floated and settled a Substantially smaller basin or area, together matter from the liquid in which they are conto with materially smaller equipment, substituted tained. In carrying out the above mentioned in its stead. object, the invention makes us of reduced pres- In carrying out the above mentioned principal sure or vacuum phenomena which, acting upon objects, the invention contemplates the provithe surface of and at least through a portion sion of a means for causing the polluted liquid of the body thereof, serves to promote both the to ave a ga ifillsed therein and for thereflotation and settling characteristics of the susafter conducting the gassed liquid to a region pended material in the enveloping liquid, in close proximity to the surface of the body Liquids of this character are well exemplified of liquid e n tr ated, while at the same time by sewage which ordinarily is treated by causing maintaining a reduced pressure on the surface of it to flow into a. relatively large settling basin, 455 the liquid body which is less than the pressure often called a. sedimentation tank or clariiier. acting on the gassed liquid. Normally the The sewage is held within the basin in substanga sed liq id 's pp atvsllbstantially m tial quiescence in order that the suspended solids pheric pr sure while the pressure on the surmay settle and become deposited on the bottom face of the liquid being treated is sub-atmosof the tank or clarifier as sediment while the pheric and by the maintenance of such pressures clarified efiluent is carried oif by means of an in and on the surface of the liquid, the pheoverflow weir located adjacent the top of the nomena, of both settling of the suspended settletank. Mechanical means are usually provided able solids and flotation of the suspended floatfor raking the sediment from the tank bottom toable solids are g tly en d- Moving a s a point of discharge. The size of such clarifiers are provided for skimming floated matter, including scum, foam, oil or grease, into scum removal hopper including a dam over which the floating matter is impelled for removal from the zone of liquid treatment. Moving means may likewise be provided for impelling the settled solids to a zone of removal, all without losing the effect of the maintained differential air pressures by air leakage.

The invention further contemplates as an important feature thereof the provision of a means for controlling the liquid level within the tank or settling basin or at least that portion of the liquid body from which the fioated material is movedto its discharge from the tank. Additionally, there i provided means whereby a major portion of the contents of the settling tank or basin will remain intact in the tank in the event that the differential air pressure or degree of vacuum maintained in the tank is dissipated due to air leakage or from any other cause whatsoever. Impotrant, too, is the provision of a means wherein treated or clarified eiiluent is drawn from the tank at a region functionally remote from the region of emission of the feed liquid into th tank and at a region at which the existing difierential air pressure is below a critical amount. A further feature of the invention is the provision for capture of foul vapors that may arise from the liquid being treated in order that the former may be rendered innocuous.

According to the invention, various means may be provided for maintaining a constant level of liquid in that portion of the liquid-solids mixture being treated and from which floating matter is skimmed but in the preferred form thereof a balanced column of clarified liquid is segregated from the main body of liquid by means of a baflle construction and the height of liquid in the column is maintained constant by means of a weir over which clarified eflluent flows, the segregated column and main body of liquid remaining in constant communication for mutual equalization of their respective liquid levels as controlled by the liquid level of the column.

The various discharge outlets from the tank for the clarified efiiuent, the floated material, and the settled solids are each sealed by means of a combined barometric leg and liquid trap or its equivalent to discourage or minimize leakage of influx of air at these points or regions in order that the full predetermined degree of subatmospheric pressure or vacuum may be maintained at the surface of and above the liquid while at the same time the effect of any small air leaks that may develop in the closed structure at other points may be nullified by maintenance of an adequate vacuum producing means, at least until the condition can be recognized and corrected.

Provision is also made for utilizing the vacuum producing means whereby subatmospherlc pressure is maintained in the tank to stabilize the barometric leg and seal for the effluent discharge and prevent surging of liquid therein. By such an arrangement the efl'ective height of the baro- .metric leg which seals the eflluent discharge is two and fifteen inches.

the level of liquid within the tank so that the liquid in the barometric leg cannot rise above this point. Stated otherwise, the suction apply-- ing means above referred to exist primarily for applying the effect of vacuum to the main body of liquid but is also utilized to control the height of the barometric leg and seal for the efliuent discharge so that this barometric leg cannot attain a height detrimental to proper discharge of fluid.

According to the principles of the present invention, the sequential gassing and vacuum or reduced pressure treatment seems to cause not only the normally fioatable matter but also a substantial quantity of normally non-fioatable and normally hard-to-settle suspended solids to rise or be buoyed to the liquid surface from whence they are removed by the skimming means. Other suspended solids seem to have their settleability increased so that as a result of the vacuum treatment, solids from some liquids settle to the bottom of the tank and deposit as sediment whereupon they are independently removed. When treating some liquids, the clarified liquid may be removed from the tank through the vacuum suction pipe, while in treating other liquids, it may be desirable to remove the treated liquid from another zone or zones of the tank.

Since it has been found that the vacuum is efiective to the maximum to fioat "suspended solids substantially only when they are exposed to the vacuum effects at the liquid surface, it is important that the velocity of the suspended solids fed to the machine shall be such that solids reach the region of the liquid to be treated. They are preferably supplied to the tank by means of a draft tube that is so calibrated and so shaped that the suspended solids in the feed passing up through the draft tube are emitted therefrom into that zone in which the vacuum becomes effective on them. The design and shape of the draft tube should be such as to give a velocity of the feed liquid up the draft tube sufiicient at least to prevent settling of solids within the moving liquid. Once the solids or any portion of them obtain a downward motion through the upflowing liquid, the pull of the vacuum is material- 1y reduced and such back-slip, once it is started, may thus become accelerated. At the same time, however, the velocity of the liquid emitted from the mouth of the draft tube should not begreat enough to cause substantial up-surge or turbulence in the liquid thereabove. The reason for this is that it causes the bubbles buoying up the floated solids to be shaken loose therefrom, whereupon those solids descend. and thus escape being skimmed off the liquid level as scum. Experience has shown that the mouth of the draft tube can be located conveniently about fifteen inches below the liquid level although it can be used varyingly in a range substantially between Experience has also shown that the degree of vacuum used is important. Below five inches of mercury, there is little effectiveness. Indeed, not less than seven inches of mercury seems to be about the minimum degree of vacuum used, and nine inches or higher is best and this latter figure is therefore recommended. It takes 13.6 inches of water to equal one inch of mercury and therefore in order to have at least some degree of vacuum effective on all the liquid in the tank, except of course that on the bottom thereof, the tank should be of the order of 9 x 13.6 inches in depth, or roughly 10 feet. In such a tank, while there is vacuum equal to aboutnine inches of mercury effective on the liquid level in the tank, at one foot below the liquid level, the vacuum equals about 8 inches of mercury, and so on down, each foot of depth taking off about one mercury-inch of effectiveness of the vacuum. Beyond five feet (or flve mercury inches), however, there seems to be little vacuum effect. This, however, is desirable for it leaves that zone of liquid below the five foot level in relative quiescence and these solids which are of high specific gravity are permitted, unmolestedly, to settle and form a sediment on the bottom of the tank from whence they may readily be removed at will. The region of withdrawal of this sediment is preferably under thev efiect of vacuum equal to or less than five inches of mercury, thus assuring that no floatable ma= terial will be carried ofi with the sediment. Discharge of materials from such an apparatus naturally has to be through the medium of a liquid-sealed barometric or hydrostatic leg or its equivalent, for otherwise the effect of subatmospheric pressure would be lost by air-leakage through the discharge regions.

The flotation effects attained by this vacuum treatment on suspended solids take place within a rather limited range of degrees of vacuum, so as much as possible of the floatable material must assuredly be conveyed into that horizontal layer, of liquid subject to such vacuum. This is assisted to some extent by first difiusing dissolving air or gas in the liquid fed to the vacuum tank whereby when the suspended particles encounter the lessened pressure in the tank, the dissolved and entrained gas is released to form gas bubbles that attach themselves to solid particles and. tend to float most of the suspended material into that area of limited vacuum efiect. Aeration or gassing of the liquid prior to its, release into body of liquid being treated under the efiect of vacuum,

has proven to be quite satisfactory since it efi'ects the difiusing of the air or gas in the liquid, but in such a case, it is usually desirable to give the aerated liquid some de-aerating treatment prior to its release in the liquid body in order to re movefrom it substantially all large or coalesced bubbles. Rising bubbles enlarge in ascending, and an expanding bubble tends to detach itself from the solid that is buoying up or floating. Therefore, the finer or smaller the bubbles developing from the liquid under vacuum the better, for merely large entrained air bubbles are useless for the flotation function. In fact the large bubbles are detrimental because they cause undue agitation on being released.

Non-settleable and slow settling suspended solids interfere with the settling of readily settleable solids, but the sequential gassing and. vacuum treatment of this invention seems to pull the slow settling suspended solids up and out so that the left-behind non-floatable and settleable solids can assume their normal free settling rates. Thus in a machine embodying this invention, settleable solids which do not float settle more rapidly. The vacuum and the rising force exerted by the air bubbles on the suspended solids act like a collector, especially when there are grease or other foamor froth-forming substances present, as is especially true in sewage and the like wastes. The vacuum apparently has a de-gassing effect on some solids. For instance, it causes to settle activated sewage sludge that would tend to float due to adherence of gas bubbles to the solids. The vacuum will cause to float normally non-floatable inorganic matter of some types such as lime sludge derived from water softening, as magnesium hydroxide, borax, potash and the like.

With respect to the treatment of sewage, it is to be recalled that sewage coming to a treatment plant at times has a relatively high temperature. This, together with flat sewer grades and long flow lines, often results in considerable anaerobic bacterial action taking place in the sewage prior to clarification treatment, with the result that there are usually present in the incoming sewage substantial quantities of gas bubbles, buoyed scum, and floating, partially-digested sewage sludge. The discharge of large quantities of cannery wastes into sewerage systems aggravates this problem and increases the floating scum. The

apparatus of this invention is quite efiective on these conditions, for not only are the scum andthe sludge separated, but the sewage being treated in the machine is tie-gassed.

The presence of finely-divided gas bubbles in sewage or other liquid has a decidedly detrimental efiect on clarification by sedimentation; so to rid the sewage of its entrained gas, substantially facilitates the subsequent sedimentation. And again, as sewage and the like wastes are usually highly odorous, the vacuum removal of this invention rids the liquid of its entrained gases and thereby reduces their odor-producing content.

The trade-mark Vacuator has been given to and used in connection with embodiments of this invention, prior to the filing of this application, so that term for short, may be used hereinafter. A major characteristic of a Vacuator is the vacuum removal from liquids not only of normally floatable matter but also of normally non-1 floatable matter. A further characteristic is the simultaneous independent removal from liquids of normally non-floatable and of settleable suspended matter desired to be removed therefrom. Thus it is a machine that accomplishes removal of matter from the liquid by physical means in distinction from biologic or bio-chemical means. In some cases, the Vacuator may be used as a skimmer only, so that scum is discharged from it by one path, while by another path there is passed from the Vacuator, de-scummed liquid vtor has proven that it can do a fair Job of removing suspended solids at as high an overflow rate as 10,000 gallons per sq. it. per 24 I hours.

There has been chosen for illustration an embodiment of the invention which in my present View is the best, but it is not to be taken as limiting, for obviously the invention can be carried out in other embodiments and shapes and arrangements that still fall within the scope or ambit of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-3 of Figure 2.

In all of the above described views, like characters of reference areemployed to designate like parts throughout.

Referring now to thedrawings in detail, the main treatment tank is designated in its entirety at In and is in the form of a closed structure having a dome-like roof or top l2, provided with a glass sealed inspection opening l3, a bottom l4 which, in the present instance is shown as sloping toward a central sludge sump l8, and. a cylindrical side wall H3.

The level of liquid maintained within the tank I is determined by means of an upstanding overflow weir which extends around the peripheral regions of the tank adjacent the top thereof and over which clarified eiiiuent is adapted to flow for discharge into a peripheral launder 22. The launder 22, and consequently the main tank It, communicate by meansof a passageway 24 with a chamber or compartment 26 positioned adjacent the main tank structure ill, the latter compartment, together with its associated structure, constituting an arrangement for applying the effect of a vacuum t-o'the main tank and also for controlling the height of liquid in the overflow launder 22 or at least in the discharge regions of the launder. Vacuum applied to the chamber 26 is communicated to the main tank partly through the passageway 24 and partially through a pipe 28 which connects the main tank and compartment through the respective top portions thereof.

An eflluent discharge pipe or conduit 30 extends downwardly from the compartment 28 and constitutes a barometric leg in that its lower end is submerged in a pool of liquid 32 maintained in a casing 34 and the level of which is determined by means of an overflow dam 38. A discharge conduit 38 communicates with the interior of the casing 34 and serves to conduct the elliuent to discharge.

The vacuum producing means is in the form of a wet vacuum pump 48 for withdrawing air or liquid from the interior of the chamber 26 by means of a pair of pipes 42 which are connected to the pump 48 by means of a manifold connection 44. The pipes 42 terminate at their lower end in a pair of nozzles 48 (see also Figure 3) which may be adjusted as to height by means of hand-operated shafts 48 that extend through the wall of the chamber or compartment 26. The pump is provided with a discharge pipe 4| connected through a three-way valve 43 alternatively to a pipe 45 for discharge into the effluent contained in the casing 34 or to a pipe 41 for discharge at a remote point if further treatment of the discharged gls, vapors or liquid is desired.

A port hole which is closed by means of aninspection glass 58, while a water jet or spray 52 keeps the glass clean, is provided for washing etc. the underneath side of the glass to clear the same of scum and the like. A valve 54 controls the flow of liquid to the spray.

Gas containing liquid suspension or feedliquid to be treated continually nters the main tank If] through a fixed feed conduit 58 having a vertical portion 51 which passes upwardly centrally into the tank. This conduit 56 constitutes a stationary'section of a draft tube and has associated therewith a rotatable draft tube or draft tube section 58 the upper terminal of which is preferably flared outwardly as at 88 and terminates in a region adjacent the surface of the body of liquid being treated. The draft tube section 58 is rotatably supported bymeans of a. spider 82 supported on a. shaft 84 passing through the dome-like roof 12 of the tank and which is provided with suitable gas-tight sealing means 68. The shaft 84 is adapted to be rotated by means of a motor M operating through a suitable gear reduction mechanism 88. The elevation of the scum sweeping arms 88, and of the spider 82 and consequently of the upper end of the draft tube section 58 and the parts carried from the latter may be varied by means of an exteriorly located hand-wheel 10 serving as a nut that is operatively associated with a threaded upright section 66 rising from the shaft 64. The gear reducing mechanism 88 embodies as a part thereof a worm ge Jr 69 which is suitably supported from the roof of the tank so as to have horizontal turning movement about a vertically-extending axis. An-

upwardly extending bracket 81 is carried by this worm gear 69 and thereupon there is mounted the hand-wheel in which normally turns with the worm gear 68, but which is mounted so as to be turned by hand relative to the worm gear whereby the shaft 64 through the medium of the threaded upright section 85 thereof can be vertically moved to effect the vertical positioning of the parts carried by said shaft, to wit, the scum skimming arms, the draft tube section 58 and the .parts carried by the latter. This vertical movement of the shaft 84 relative to the worm gear 68 is permitted because of a splined driving connection which has been provided between the worm gear 68 and the vertical shaft 84 that extends through and which is axially aligned with the worm gear.

As'illustrative of the construction as to how the motor actuated worm gear 88 derives rotatable support from a stationary supporting member such as the top or roof of the tank and as to how the vertically extending shaft 84 is mounted so as to be driven from the worm gear which while at the same time having means associated therewith for efiecting vertical adjustment of the shaft relative to the gear, reference is made to the construction shown and described in the Scott Patent No. 2,087,725, granted July 20, 1937, entitled Sedimentation device.

A plurality of rake arms 12 extend substantially radially outwardly from the draft tube 58 adjacent the bottom of the tank and are supported from and rotatable with the draft tube. The arms I2 carry raking blades or plows 14 which are adapted upon rotation of the arms to rake or impel sludge or sediment settling on the tank floor l4 to the discharge sump Hi from whence it may be conducted to a discharge by means of -valve 86. The sump 82 is isolated from the remainder of the casing 83 by means of a baffle 88.

A plurality of scum-sweeping arms 88 extend radially outwardly from the rotatable shaft 64 and each arm supports a resilient scum-sweeping blade that serves, upon rotation of the arms 88 to sweep scum and other floating material upwardly along an inclined ramp 82 (Figure 1) leading to a scum-receiving hopper or sump 94 which communicates by means of a conduit 86 with a pool 88 maintained" in the casing 83 by means of a bailie or dam Hill which is spaced from the baffle 85. The conduit and pool constitute in effect -a barometric leg for preventing ingress of air into the tank at this region of scum removal.

The space existing between the baffles 85 and I88 forms an overflow sump 12 from which sludge or sediment that may issue from the sump 82 together with scum overflowing the baffle or dam 100 may be discharged by means of a rising suction pipe I04 and pump I08.

Disposed within the tank Ill and extending therearound in the peripheral regions thereof and spaced inwardly from the outer wall It is a liquid-dividing wall or baflle I08 for functionally dividing or separating the liquid contents of the tank into two communicating bodies or columns including a central cylindrical column H representing the liquid being treated and an enveloping annular column M2 representing clarified liquid. The lowermost edge of the dividing wall I08 is designatedat lid while the region of communication between the two liquid bodies is designated at H6. Suitable spider members or webs H8 serve to hold the dividing wall Hill in position within the tank.

In case the incoming feed liquid does not alread contain suflicient gas to cause its suspended particles to float under the influence of vacuum in the tank Iii, as it rarely does, this liquid is passed from a feed pipe H9 through an aerating or assing station made up of an aerating chamber E20 having an aerating impeller I22 rotatably mounted therein, followed by a de-aerating or degassing chamber died, from whence the liquid flows over a dam or weir 126 into a Well me and from thence to the feed pipe or conduit 56, its flow thereinto being controlled by means of a manually adjustable gate member G29. The gaseous medium is supplied to the aerating chamber 520 from a supply pipe it!) having a valve i132 therein for control of the flow of gaseousmaterial.

The apparatus which comprises the present invention has been termed "Vacuator a trademark name given to and used in connection with various embodiments of the invention prior to filing of this application, In the operation of the Vacuator, liquid suspension to be treated, and which may originally contain suilicient gas to permit flotation of particles under the influence of vacuum or which may be subjected to an initial gassing process in the gassing chamber 520, is continually drawn, due to the vacuum effect upwardly through the draft tube sections 56 and 58 from whence it is emitted through the flared portion 6d into the region of the liquid level of the body of liquid undergoing treatment in the tank It. This region extends from the plane of emission of the fresh feed liquid from the draft tube section 58 upwardly to the surface level of the tank within the confines of the annular wall Hi8 and exists within approximately fifteen inches or less below the surface level of the liquid. The partition or wall its divides the tank contents into the two liquid bodies or columns H0, H2 of liquid that balance each other. Since the partion terminates well short of the bottom of the tank. the liquid bodies H0 and H2 are free to combine in the space H 6 but this space is essentially in a region functionally remote from the point of liquid delivery into the tank.

The effect of va uum, produced by the dry vacuum pump 40, causes minute bubbles of gas to attach themselves to particles in suspension in the liquid whereupon those particles are caused to float to. the liquid surface where they collect as or form into a scum of floated material. This flotation effect takes place not onl on normally floatable particles but also on certain normally nonr-floatable particles. This continually formed scum or float of floating or floated particles, is swept around the.liquid level by the sweepin blades 90 on the scum arms 88 due to their rota-- mechanism. The resilient blades 90 sweep scum that they encounter, up the ramp 92 (Figure 1) whereupon scum drops into hopper 9S and flows to discharge through pipe 96 and its barometric leg, without any material air-leakage into the tank taking lace through the discharge pipe 9|, for otherwise the effect of vacuum in the tank would be lessened thereby. Clarified liquid con-- tinually overflows the weir or edge 20 from the top of the column N2 of clarified liquid and passes via launder 22 into the effluent pipe which constitutes a barometric leg to prevent air-leakage. The column N2 of clarified liquid balances the body I ID of liquid being treated, but since this latter column of "liquid being treated plus its floating scum is somewhat heavier than the column I I2 of clarified liquid, the liquid level of the combined liquid being treated and its scum is somewhat higher than the liquid level of the clarified liquid. However, the weir Ml that determines the liquid level of the clarified liquid column H2 may thus be said to determine the general liquid level of the liquid being treated. The bailie and weir arrangement provides also for eiiicient feed distribution, causing improved flotation and sedimentation with a minimum of bypassing.

The wall or partition m8 rises high enough above the liquid level of the column M0 to prevent scum'from passing thereover into the .clarlfied'liquid column M2. It leaves a gas passageway between the area or region immediately over the liquid body it and the region immediately over the liquid of column H2, It will be noted that by this general arrangement of feed, scum discharge, and effluent overflow, that the liquid suspension is supplied to the tank in a region that is functionally remote from the eiliuent overflow, and'that the scum is removed from a region also functionally remote from the efiiuent overflow. Vapors or gas extracted from the liquid pass to the gas space provided in the tank above the liquid level and from whence they migrate to the chamber 26 and are continually sucked off through the vacuum pump 40 to discharge or to further treatment. I

Certain solids in certain liquids will not float even under the influence of the eifect of vacuum. These tend to descend and ultimately sink onto the tank floor M where they accumulate as sediment. This sediment is dischargeable from the tank by means of the rake arms 72 and raking or plowing blades it which rotate with the drafttube section 58. The speed of rotation of these rake arms is so slow as not to roll up the sediment. The sediment is thus impelled into the sludge sump it from whence it can be removed by pump F8 for disposal or for further treatment. The discharge of sediment or sludge is optional and depends upon whether or not sediment results from the treament of the particular liqui suspension being acted upon.

In the event of loss of the effect of vacuum within the tank Ill, all of the liquid contents thereof will not pass out therefrom in quick order for such outflow will be opposed or prevented due to the structure used. If there beno valve in the feed pipe 56, liquid from the tank will flow back therethrough until the tank liquid assumes a level at an elevation equal to the upper edge of the flared portion 60 of the draft-tube section 58 because from that level downward there is no escape for any liquid from the tank.

If aeration of the liquid feed is resorted to and tion by means of shaft 64 and its motivating v air is to be' the gas used to aerate, aeration can take place in open air, but where the liquid suspension has a high biochemical oxygen demand, a gas should be used that is inert to that demand. If the gas used has a tendency to leave liquid quickly, the gassing should take place in chamber I20 with that chamber covered. After gassing, it is important that there be removed from the liquid large bubbles, for it is only the very fine, the infinitesimal bubbles that are most effective in flotation, as large bubbles indeed interfere with good flotation. Such a large bubble eliminating station'is provided in chamber I21, from whence the gassed liquid or liquor passes through the pipe 56 and up the draft-tube 58.

The degree of vacuum to be used has been found satisfactory if it is equal to the order of between seven and nine or nine and a half inches of mercury. In general the more vacuum, the more efiective is the separation of suspended particles. Likewise, in general the detention period, based on average fiow into the tank, has been found to be of the order of from three to' ten minutes. Since it is important that the eflluent 'have 'a minimum of suspended particles therein,

.noted that the distance indicated at a'-a as the height of the outflow barometric leg within the draft tube 30 is deliberately determined and made so that it is somewhat less than that of said the tank to a region where there i a minimum of such particles, and that region has been found to be capable of definition as that at which there is a vacuum effect equal to the order of five inches of mercury. With the stated degree of vacuum used, it is desirable to have the tank of the order of ten feetdeep. In such a tank, with such a degree of vacuum used, the partition I08 should terminate about five feet or five and a half feet from the bottom of the tank. .7

Referring now to Figure 2, the liquid level maintained in the overflow launder 22, or at least in the region of the launder adjacent the barometric leg means and as controlled by the elevation assigned to the nozzles 46 is indicated by the dimensioned line a'-a. This height a'a of liquid in the barometric leg arrangement, to wit, the height ofthe outflow barometric leg, obviously determines the degree of vacuum or subatmospheric pressure that may be maintained in the tank regardless of power developed by the pump provided of course that this pump develops a degree of vacuum at least equal to or above a predetermined minimum. Consider the liquid level of the liquid in the tank as a basic elevation, to wit, a basic elevation determined by overflow weir 20. Then the operative level of the liquid in the well I28 is such that its distance b'b below the basic elevation is somewhat less than the effective height a'--a of the outflow barometric leg just referred to whereby there will take place or be realized an inflow of liquid through the conduit or inflow barometric leg 56 into the tank and a concurrent outflow of dense liquid from the tank through the downflow barometric leg 30. This is asit should be. For proper operation the distance bb' must be maintained somewhat less than the distance at c'-c from the inlet opening Beading into the condistance c'c whereby the liquid seal for the inlet passage of the feed conduit will be maintained and will not be broken incident to any concomitant flow of liquid into and fiow of liquid from the. tank. The distance d"-d' between the level of the liquid in pool 98 and the basic elevation as determined by said weir 20 is considerably greater than the height of the outflow barometric leg at 30 as indicated by a'a since the barometric leg, to wit, the scum barometric leg, afforded in the cum line 96 is made up of scum or at least includes much scum that is relatively light as compared with the dense or heavy fluid in the outflow barometric leg 30. The distance indicated at d"d' is illustrative of the general position of the scum material in the conduit 96 and ordinarily the level 11' thereof will vary be-- cause of quantities of scum therein varying relative to quantities of heavier liquid that passes outwardly with the scum. The scum barometric leg because of its including scumas well as some liquidtakes on and requires substantially greater height therefor than that of said height a'a of the outflow barometric leg 30.

In connection with the foregoing it may be tersely stated (1) that the fixed feed conduit or tube 56, the intake end of which is constantly submerged, and the associated rotatable draft tube section 58 collectively functions as a single draft tube which provide essential features for that which has been or may be referred to as the intake barometric leg or as the barometric upflow feed leg; (2) that the efiiuent discharge pipe 30 the lower end of which is constantly in submergence constitutes a heavy liquid discharge conduit or tube providing that which has been or may be referred to as the outflow barometric leg or as the barometric downfiow liquid leg; (3) that the structure providin the scum-receiving hopper 94 and the conduit or tube 96 leading downwardly therefrom extends or dips into a constantly maintained well of liquid 98 whereby the lower end thereof is constantly sealed against the entrance of air and this construction is sometimes herein referred to as the scum discharge conduit that provides the barometric scum-discharge leg; and (4) that the main treatment tank III has adjacent thereto an, auxiliary chamber providing structure 26 of which the upper interior portion thereof is in constant communication with the upper interior portion of the tank whereby the same degree of vacuum or reduced pressure is maintained in the region immediately overlying the liquid in the tank and any overfiowed heavy liquid in the outflow launder 22 and the auxiliary chamber 26; and (5) that a wet vacuum pumping means comprising intake nozzles is provided to determine the elevation of the liquid in the auxiliary chamber 26 and that this same feature is relied upon for determining that constant degree of vacuum or reduced pressure which is desired for the paras'zaaea for this type of vacuum flotation apparatus, has

as to raise the overall liquid level in the tank and flood the apparatus.

It has been found thatsuch a Vacuator can treat liquid suspensions continuously at. an overflow rate of clarified eiiiuent equal to at least from 5,000 to 10,000 gallons per twenty-four hours per being treated. The rate may be less than 5,000

and more than 10,000 gallons for it depends upon v the degree of clarity of eilluent required, or the Since it comprises a sealed tank, the unsightly scum is not apparent to observers or visitors to a treatment plant that uses it. A Vacuator is a beneflciator of as well as a remover of solids the property of rendering those solids that it does not float, into a condition by which their settleability is improved when subjected to treatment in a subsequent clarifler or other sedimentation apparatus.

square foot of liquid level surface of the liquid What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for separating suspended particles from liquids, comprising a closed tank for holding within the upper portion thereof a gas at sub-atmospheric pressure and within the lower degree to which solids that are required to be removed therefrom. As much as 60 to 80% of the suspended particles of the liquid being treated can be removed as scum or float. Most liquids troduction into the tank, and the air or gas requirements thereof are of the order of from 0.02 to 0.05 cubic feet per gallon. The detention period of the liquid undergoing gas-diflusing therein, IS satisfactory when of the order of five minutes, based upon average flow, depending upon portion thereof an ever-changing body of liquid undergoing treatment while constantly exposed to said overlying gas; a liquid-sealedupflow feed tube terminating within the tank; clarified-liquid should be aerated or gassed prior to their indischarge means embodying an upflow section leading from the lower portion of-the tank, an overflow weir which determines the general level of liquid undergoing treatment in the tank, a liquid-sealed barometric leg for the downward V passage of liquid overflowing said weir in constant gas communication with the gas within the the character of aeration used and also upon the degree of clarification required. The detention period of the liquid in the vacuum-flotation tank is satisfactory when of the order of from three to ten minutes, based upon average flow and also depending upon the degree of clarification required. If the liquid being treated has a relatively high biochemical oxygen demand (B. O. D.) the gas used for diffusing in the liquid instead of air may well be some gas :that is inert to the liquids oxygen demand, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and so on, or combinations thereof. However, some liquids do not need to be gassed because they already contain enough gas to bring about flotation of their suspended particles when under the eflect of vacuum. Such a liquid may be sewage that has gone septic, or activated sludge, or any other well-aerated liquid.

Most flotation processes require frothing agents and depressant agents or reagents to be added to the liquid suspension to be treated, but such I chemicals or their equivalents do not appear necessary when treating in Vacuator liquids that contain septical organics, oils or greases.

Heretofore, clariflers which are sedimentation upper portion of the tank, liquid-sealed discharge means disposedfor receiving floated scum from 'the body of liquid undergoing treatment within the tank; pumping means for sucking as from said apparatus having a suction intake above the overflowed eiliuent from said weir disposed on A the delivery side of said weir with the intake end tanks, have been used primarily to separate from liquid suspensions those solids that were normal- 1y settleable. Solids that were normally floatable would rise to the surface and form a floatin scum, which the clarifler cannot always handle as well as might be desired. A Vacuator removes flnely suspended matter by flotation rather than bysedimentation. Thus a Vacuator operates on an opposite theory for it is designed primarily to separate from liquid suspensions not only normally floatable particles but certain normallynonfloatabie particles which under the eflect of ithe' Vacuator are rendered floatable. In a clarifler suspended solids of certain critical sized solids will either settle or float extremely slowly wherea the Vacuator causes them to float rapidly. A

Vacuator requires less ground space, and gives '01! no odors since it comprises a sealed tank.

thereof at elevation lower than said weir whereby reduction of gas pressurewithin the tank can be maintained but not to a degree sufllcient to cause the overflowed liquid to rise to elevation as high as that of the overflow weir.

2. Apparatus for separating suspended particles I from liquids, comprising a closed tank for holding an ever-changing body of such liquid and a contacting body of gas thereabove, a liquid-sealed upflow feed-tube terminating adjacent the liquid level in the tank, an overflow weir for determining the general liquid levelv of liquid under treatment in the tank, a partially submerged baflie in the tank under which liquid must flow to pass over the weir, a launder for receiving liquid overflowing the weir, a liquid-sealed barometric leg above which the gas of the tank also extends for maintaining therein a dischargins column or liquid which has overflowed .the weir and has been received by the column from the launder, liquid-sealed means for removing'floating scum from the feed side of the baiiie, and means for applying suction to maintain subatmospheric pressure on the gas overlying the liquid in both the tank and the discharging colmin which includes a suction intake suitable for sucking liquid when submerged and gas. when not submerged disposed outside the weir at an,

elevation lower than the weir but so relatedto the liquid of the barometric leg that if submerged by discharging liquid of the column rising thereto due to excessive sub-atmospheric pressure the intake will suck such liquid to removal from the column and the tank before such rising liquid reaches the level of the weir.

ROBERT F. CIEMENS. 

